(no subject)

[devoutish]

[When the car radiator overheats for the third time in a week, Alfie takes it as a sign that it's finally time for more than just another quick tune-up.

They're in a deserted area, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, most of the dangerous gangs are still in urban areas, the way they had been before the world had gone to shit. Out here in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of fields with only the occasional small copse of trees, they're not likely to run into anyone at all, much less anyone dangerous. But on the other hand, if they do come across anyone, there won't be anywhere to run to or hide. Alfie, as always, has his pistol tucked into his coat pocket, and they have more weapons stashed away in the trunk. But they're a small group - no match for the bigger gangs with armored trucks and heavy artillery. If they meet one of those, they'll be slaughtered.

With his sleeves rolled up and the hood of the car open, he leans in with his tools, carefully tinkering away. He can't afford to make a mistake here - replacement parts are rare and precious. When he hears footsteps behind him, he doesn't dare look away from his work as he says sharply:]

Stay back. You don't want hot steam to the face.

Comments

[bywolves]

[ Royce crawls back into the car, exhausted. It takes him a few seconds to find the courage to do it, but he settles down where Alfie was, next to Mercy. He shouldn't hesitate about this sort of thing, but he's still not entirely sure how to be a dad. Even after seven years, he feels like he can't get the hang of it, even with stuff like this.

Thankfully, Mercy doesn't even pause. Royce settles down, and she sighs, scooting closer to hide her face against his chest. Royce pauses, and then smiles faintly, wrapping his arms around her.

Anxiety eased, Royce falls asleep in seconds. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie sits quietly, and doesn't stir - for a full hour, like he'd promised. And when that hour is up, he hops down, quietly opening the car door and leaning in to lightly shake Royce's arm.]

Enough?

[One hour of sleep in twenty-four hours will never be enough. But maybe, if they're lucky, he'll be able to drive for a few hours before he has to stop again.]

[bywolves]

[ It's not, but Royce forces himself up anyway. He looks worn out as he sits up and scrubs at his face. Mercy finally decides to wake up as well when he stirs, yawning and blinking groggily at the two of them.

Royce pauses, and then leans to press a kiss to her forehead. She smiles a little, still sleepy, even as Royce is dragging himself up to sit in the passenger's seat. ]

How are you doing, Mercy? [ Royce asks quietly, and she hums out a little fine before yawning again. ]

[devoutish]

[And Alfie slides behind the wheel, tucking the end of his cane into the door pocket the way he always does when he drives.]

Sleep well?

[He glances over his shoulder at Mercy.]

We're just gonna go slow today. Give your dad a chance to rest up after his long night.

[bywolves]

I slept okay! [ Mercy says, as cheerful as she can. She's sensitive to mood, and she can tell Royce is not in a great one, so she doesn't mention her nightmares. Tries not to think about them, either. Instead, she leans forward and peers out the front window. ]

Are we okay now? The other car is gone? [ Mercy asks. ]

[devoutish]

We're keeping an eye out for it.

[He starts the car up, heading back towards the road again.]

You wanna help? You've got your dad's eyes.

[bywolves]

[ She grins widely. ] Yeah, I can help! Um. Do I just sit back here and look out the window?

[ Royce at least sounds amused when he replies: ] Yes. Look through both of them, and through the back window as well. Tell us if you see anybody or anything.

[devoutish]

And tell me if he starts falling asleep. Poke him hard in the shoulder.

[Alfie Solomons - former crime lord, current troll.]

[bywolves]

[ Mercy laughs, and sneaks up to pinch Royce, who startles. She might have to do it more than once, honestly - car rides are not good for staying awake. ]

Don't encourage her. [ Royce says to Alfie, a faint smile on his face, and Mercy laughs again before crawling back to stare out through the window.

Royce doesn't fall asleep, but there are several times where he has to shift in his seat, lean forward, fidget, just so he doesn't doze off. After a while of driving, he says in a weary sort of voice: ] What I wouldn't give for coffee.

[devoutish]

Coffee.

[God, does Alfie miss coffee. Among many, many other things.]

Just yesterday, right, I was thinking about a piping bowl of hot fish soup.

[bywolves]

Ugh. [ Royce says, but he's teasing. ] Of all the things you could miss, you pick that?

[devoutish]

I could've said a McRib sandwich, couldn't I.

[He misses those, too.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts, and then laughs, rubbing at his face. He pauses for a long, long moment, and then: ] I miss Gwen's cooking.

[ For the first time in a long time, he doesn't sound like he's in pain when he says her name. ] Her pie. Blueberry. You remember?

[devoutish]

[He's talking about Gwen. It's a rare thing, and it has him looking over his shoulder to see what Mercy's reaction is.]

Yeah, mate. I remember.

[bywolves]

[ Mercy is pretending like she isn't listening, but she is.

Royce takes a deep breath, and exhales it slow. ] She would've scolded you for saying you miss McRib sandwiches.

[devoutish]

She might've approved of the fish soup if I made it clear it was the homemade kind that I missed.

[bywolves]

[ He smiles a little. ] Mm. Would've called you a flatterer.

[ And now he lapses into silence, staring out the window. Mercy maybe huffs a little in the backseat, clearly disappointed, but she doesn't say anything about it. She just combs her fingers through her hair, staring out the window. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's fingers drum idly on the steering wheel. He wants to keep talking about Gwen, for Mercy's sake - but he can't do that to Royce, who is clearly done with the topic. He knows all too well how hard it is to talk about the people who are gone, and how much it hurts to have someone else push the subject. He makes a mental note to tell Mercy some Gwen stories as soon as possible, when Royce is either asleep or otherwise out of earshot.

About an hour into the drive, he breaks the silence again, this time for more practical reasons.]

Still awake enough?

[bywolves]

[ It's a good thing he does, because Royce slowly descends into a thundercloudy sort of mood. He's exhausted and thinking about Gwen hurts, and he can't stop, once he's got himself started. He's glad that Alfie didn't push - it's an understanding between the two of them - but it doesn't stop him from thinking.

Alfie interrupts it, and Royce leans forward again with a sigh. ] Trying. Hard to focus.

[devoutish]

Right. We're stopping. Gonna give you some more time to rest.

[He angles the car off the road again, driving a few hundred feet into one of the grass fields that still border the side of the road.]

[bywolves]

No, keep -- [ But Alfie's already off the road, and Royce scowls slightly. Mercy, on the other hand, is buzzing because maybe this means she gets to go outside! For a while! Explore a little... maybe roll a big rock over and catch bugs.

Royce sits back, tilting his head back. ] Could just keep going. Let me rest while driving.

[ Mercy is already opening the door, though, peeking out into the grass. She's restless! ]

[devoutish]

Mercy.

[Alfie's voice is sharp - he's worried about her running off before they have a chance to scout the area.

He turns back to Royce.]

We need your eyes with that truck nearby. I don't want to drive us into a trap.

[bywolves]

[ She ducks her head a little, but stays in the car. She knows better! She just got a little excited.

Royce sighs, and then waves his hand before pulling his hood up. ] Take Mercy and stretch your legs. I don't need long. [ He needs a while, as long as Alfie's willing to give him, but he won't specify. ]

SO CUTE WHY

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie gets out of the car and goes to the trunk, pulling out an extra gun to hand to Royce. He makes sure his own pistol is still in his coat pocket - the way it always is, when he leaves the car - and climbs up on the roof to survey.

Everything looks deserted. Safe.]

What do you think, Mercy?

(◡ ‿ ◡ ✿)

[showhim]

[ Royce takes the gun without a word, settling down to sleep.

Mercy scrambles on the roof immediately, grinning at the fact that she gets to be out in the open air. Taking a deep breath, she sets her hands on her hips and stares out into the space before them. She doesn't see anybody, or anything, or... any movement. Which is good. ]

It looks clear to me! Can - can we go explore? [ A pause, and she folds her arms instead, looking at Alfie with a half concerned, half determined sort of look. ] Only if your back doesn't hurt!